2. This word was probably coined by Paul. It occurs twice
in the Pastoral epistles, and nowhere else.

3. English words: Orthodox (ant.), Heterodox.

II. What is “Sound Doctrine”

A. “Sound Doctrine” is “Healthy or Wholesome Doctrine”

B. It is doctrine that leads to spiritual health. Other
doctrines lead to spiritual disease and death.

C. What is contrary to sound doctrine?

1. “the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for
sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of
fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 10for
fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for
perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary
to sound doctrine” (1 Timothy 1:9-10)

2. First, it is a mistake to conclude from this list that
doctrine involves only the “moral” teachings of Christ.

a) ALL scripture is profitable for doctrine (2 Timothy
3:16)

b) If we peal off a subset of Christ’s teachings and call
that “Doctrine,” then we have made a distinction that is
not supported by Scripture.

3. However, our doctrine cannot be divorced from our lives.

a) We are the things that we do.

b) If we quote chapter and verse yet lead Godless lives,
then we are just as much a “false teacher” as one who
twists the words of God.

(1) Gossip is just as much a deviation from sound doctrine
as premillennialism. They are both contrary to the teaching
of Christ and both lead to spiritual sickness.

c) All of God’s doctrine is important – we can’t pick and
choose.

d) If we are leading un-Godly lives, then we are not
doctrinally correct.

III. Can We Have Christ Apart from Doctrine?

A. We Cannot Separate Christ From His Doctrine

1. “Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same
scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. 36And as they went
on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the
eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be
baptized?” (Acts 8:35-36)

2. “If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father
will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our
abode with him. 24He that loveth me not keepeth not my
sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the
Father’s which sent me.” (John 14:23-24)

a) Logically these verses tell us that the group of those
who keep Christ’s sayings is identical to the group of
those who love him. There is not one person in either group
who is not also in the other group.

3. “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath
one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same
shall judge him in the last day.” (John 12:48)

4. “Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine
of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine
of Christ has both the Father and the Son.” (2 John 9)

5. “He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His
commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” (1
John 2:4)

6. But some say that doctrine is not the issue – all we
need to do is just “focus on Christ.” Fine – but how do we
do that? What does it mean to “just focus on Christ”?

a) The word of God is the source for all that we know about
Christ. How can we focus on Christ and ignore the teaching
of Christ?

b) If we say that some teachings are “essential” and others
are not, how do we decide what is “essential” and what is
not?

B. Does Grace Outweigh Doctrine?

1. It is through doctrine that we obtain grace!

2. “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me
draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. 45“It
is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught
by God.’ Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from
the Father comes to Me.” (John 6:44-45)

3. But as for you, speak the things which are proper for
sound doctrine: … [examples] … 11For the grace of God that
brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12teaching us
that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live
soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age.” (Titus
2:1,11-12)

C. Is it Possible to Overemphasize Doctrine?

1. It is possible to underemphasize love – but the solution
to that problem is not to also underemphasize doctrine!

2. We must preach the truth in love. (Eph. 4:15)

a) R. L. Whiteside: “Much is said about preaching the truth
in love and so it should be preached. But in love of what?
The preacher should so love the truth that he will not
sacrifice any of it nor pervert it, and he should so love
people that he will not withhold from them even one
unpleasant truth. He that does either of these things loves
neither the truth nor the people.”

b) “For the time will come when they will not endure sound
doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to
themselves teachers, having itching ears.” (2 Timothy 4:3)

c) “An astonishing and horrible thing has been committed in
the land: The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests
rule by their own power; And My people love to have it so.
But what will you do in the end?” (Jeremiah 5:30-31)

d) Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Do not listen to the words
of the prophets who prophesy to you. They make you
worthless; They speak a vision of their own heart, not from
the mouth of the Lord. They continually say to those who
despise Me, ‘The Lord has said, “You shall have peace” ’;
And to everyone who walks according to the dictates of his
own heart, they say, ‘No evil shall come upon you.’”
(Jeremiah 23:16-17)

3. But isn’t it unloving to tell people they are
religiously mistaken?

a) No. THE MOST UNLOVING THING YOU CAN DO TO SOMEONE IS TO
TELL THEM THEY ARE RIGHT WITH GOD WHEN IN FACT THEY ARE
NOT.

2. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be
perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” (2 Tim.
1:16)

a) “Perfect” here is “artios” which also means complete or
perfectly fitted for a particular use.

3. “As His divine power has given to us all things that
pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him
who called us by glory and virtue” (2 Peter 1:3)

4. God’s revelation to man is not continuing today. If
God’s revelation to man continues, then the Bible is not
complete – there must be something else we need.

G. It is powerful

1. “And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word
was with power.” (Luke 4:32)

2. “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper
than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing
asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow,
and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the
heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)

H. It must be obeyed

1. “But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin,
yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to
which you were delivered.” (Romans 6:17)

I. It saves

1. “Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in
them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and
those who hear you.” (1 Timothy 4:16)

2. The gospel is doctrine. It makes no sense to say (as
some do) that we should focus on the gospel rather than on
doctrine.

J. It must be loved

1. “Because they received not the love of the truth, that
they might be saved.” (2 Thess. 2:9)

2. “O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.”
(Psalm 119:97)

K. It must be focused upon

1. “He also that received seed among the thorns is he that
heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the
deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh
unfruitful.” (Matthew 13:22)

2. “According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God
which was committed to my trust.” (1 Timothy 1:11)

3. “Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause
divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you
learned, and avoid them.” (Romans 16:17)

4. What must we guard against?

a) We are losing our ability to think.

(1) Logical Thinking

(a) The goal of logic is consistency – not truth.

(b) Logic is a tool for thinking.

(c) Example: If baptism is necessary, then logically the
unbaptized are lost. If we say the first half of that
sentence, then we have said the second half whether we
mouth the words or not!

(i) Some today would say, “I agree that all men are mortal
and that Socrates was a man … but I’m not saying that
Socrates was mortal!” Of course, they said that Socrates
was mortal when they made the first two statements.

(2) Deconstructionism

(a) According to this view, the reader determines truth and
language is a tool of oppression.

b) We are losing our ability to focus.

c) We are becoming marginalized.

(1) Is faith private? (Some people’s faith is so private
they don’t even impose it on themselves.)

(2) “These that have turned the world upside down are come
hither also.” (Acts 17:6)

(3) “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of
power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7)

(a) Greek “power” is “dunamis” – dynamite.

God's Plan of Salvation

You must hear the gospel and then understand and recognize that you are lost without Jesus Christ no matter who you are and no matter what your background is. The Bible tells us that “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) Before you can be saved, you must understand that you are lost and that the only way to be saved is by obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ. (2 Thessalonians 1:8) Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6) “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

You must believe and have faith in God because “without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6) But neither belief alone nor faith alone is sufficient to save. (James 2:19; James 2:24; Matthew 7:21)

You must repent of your sins. (Acts 3:19) But repentance alone is not enough. The so-called “Sinner’s Prayer” that you hear so much about today from denominational preachers does not appear anywhere in the Bible. Indeed, nowhere in the Bible was anyone ever told to pray the “Sinner’s Prayer” to be saved. By contrast, there are numerous examples showing that prayer alone does not save. Saul, for example, prayed following his meeting with Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:11), but Saul was still in his sins when Ananias met him three days later (Acts 22:16). Cornelius prayed to God always, and yet there was something else he needed to do to be saved (Acts 10:2, 6, 33, 48). If prayer alone did not save Saul or Cornelius, prayer alone will not save you. You must obey the gospel.
(2 Thess. 1:8)

You must confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. (Romans 10:9-10) Note that you do NOT need to make Jesus “Lord of your life.” Why? Because Jesus is already Lord of your life whether or not you have obeyed his gospel. Indeed, we obey him, not to make him Lord, but because he already is Lord. (Acts 2:36) Also, no one in the Bible was ever told to just “accept Jesus as your personal savior.” We must confess that Jesus is the Son of God, but, as with faith and repentance, confession alone does not save. (Matthew 7:21)

Having believed, repented, and confessed that Jesus is the Son of God, you must be baptized for the remission of your sins. (Acts 2:38) It is at this point (and not before) that your sins are forgiven. (Acts 22:16) It is impossible to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ without teaching the absolute necessity of baptism for salvation. (Acts 8:35-36; Romans 6:3-4; 1 Peter 3:21) Anyone who responds to the question in Acts 2:37 with an answer that contradicts Acts 2:38 is NOT proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ!

Once you are saved, God adds you to his church and writes your name in the Book of Life. (Acts 2:47; Philippians 4:3) To continue in God’s grace, you must continue to serve God faithfully until death. Unless they remain faithful, those who are in God’s grace will fall from grace, and those whose names are in the Book of Life will have their names blotted out of that book. (Revelation 2:10; Revelation 3:5; Galatians 5:4)

What is the church of Christ?

In Matthew 16:18, Jesus promised to build a church.
In Acts 2:47, Luke tells us that people were being
added to that church. Thus, we can conclude that Jesus
built His church sometime between His promise in
Matthew 16 and Luke’s statement in Acts 2. Indeed, a
closer study of the events in Acts 2 reveals that the
Lord’s church was established on that first day of
Pentecost following the Lord’s resurrection when Peter
preached the first gospel sermon. That church is the church of Christ.

A common misconception about the church of Christ is
that “The Church of Christ” is its name. It is not. The
“church of Christ” is its description. The church of
Christ is the church that belongs to Christ, that was
established by Christ, that was built by Christ, and
that was bought by Christ. It is not our church; it is
His church, the Lord’s church. We are not voted into
the church by men, and we do not join a church the way
some might join a country club. Instead, God adds us to
His church when we obey His gospel.

Are those in the church of Christ the only people
who are going to be saved? Of course they are! God
adds people to His church when they are saved. If you
are not in the Lord’s church, then you are not saved.
If you are saved, then you are in the Lord’s church. To
be saved outside of the church of Christ is to be saved
outside of the body of Christ – and that can never
happen. Jesus is not just a way to the Father; he is
the way to the Father. As Jesus said in John 14:6, “ I
am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto
the Father, but by me.”

Thus, the real question is not what is the church of
Christ, but is rather how do you become a part of the
church of Christ? That question was asked in the first
century as it is asked today, and the answer remains
the same. We are saved and added to the Lord’s church
when we obey the gospel of Jesus Christ. Like the
Apostle Paul, we are saved when our sins are washed
away at our baptism.

There is one church of Christ. If you are a member
of something else or something more or something less,
then you are not serving God according to His plan or
according to His will. He wants you to be a Christian
and only a Christian, wearing only the name of His Son,
Jesus Christ, who is the head and the savior of the
church, His body.

What Must I Do?

What must I do? That same question was asked in Acts 2:37 at the end of the very first gospel sermon ever preached. Before we look at Peter’s answer in verse 38, let’s look at some answers Peter did NOT give.

What must I do? John Calvin answers, “Nothing!” According to Calvin, there is nothing we must do and nothing we can do. Each of us has already been personally predestined to Heaven or Hell without regard to anything we do on Earth, and so, logically, according to Calvin, the only answer to the question in Acts 2:37 is “Nothing.” But that is NOT how Peter answered that question.

What must I do? Many preachers today answer, “You must make Jesus the Lord of your life.” But that answer makes absolutely no sense then or now! Peter had just said in Acts 2:36 that “God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” Jesus was already Lord of their lives! Jesus is Lord of lords and King of kings, which means he is your Lord and your King whether or not you obey him or believe him. We obey Jesus because he is Lord and King – not to make him Lord and King.

What must I do? Many preachers today answer, “You must pray the sinner’s prayer and invite the Lord Jesus into you heart.” But no one in the Bible was ever told to do that. In fact, Paul prayed after he saw Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:11), and yet Paul was still in his sins when Ananias met him three days later (Acts 22:16). Cornelius prayed to God always (Acts 10:2), and yet there remained something he still had to do after calling for Peter (Acts 10:6). If praying the sinner’s prayer was all that Paul and Cornelius needed to do, then why were Ananias and Peter needed?

What must I do? Listen as Peter answers that question: “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 2:38) That answer has not changed one bit in the intervening 2000 years. If your preacher is telling you something different, then you need a new preacher! “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” (Acts 22:16)

We also have 24 lessons on First Corinthians. In this epistle, Paul deals with many current issues facing the church both then and now: immorality, divorce and remarriage, the role of women, spiritual gifts, the importance of love, and the resurrection of the body.

We have 25 lessons on Second Corinthians. In this epistle, Paul continues to deal with problems facing the church in Corinth, which now include an influx of false apostles who are belittling Paul and demeaning his apostolic authority.

We have 13 lessons on James and Jude, the two letters written by the earthly (half)-brothers of Christ. They have much to tell us about the Christian life and how we are to contend for the faith in a godless world.